Sydney, Australia

Australia, the land from down undaaah.

If you’re interested in a swath of outdoor fun, assertive party culture, an acutely subtle art scene, and learning to ride waves, Oz is your ticket. Or, if you watched that Disney movie, the Rescuer’s Down Under, and have wanted to go to Australia ever since, even more reason to get there…!

(Cover Image by Nico Smit)

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When to Go?

Oftentimes people forget that the southern hemisphere is opposite seasons from the north. Australia’s summer is the north’s winter. And while there isn’t a gigantic range of seasonal change if looking to get your feet wet, go in Australia’s summer, and the north’s wintertime in November and December. The weather then is a safe bet.

Highlights

Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is one of the most standout features of Australia. It amazes with its wing-like sailboat architecture. Seeing it is something! And tours to venture in and learn about the history of its design are also possible.

The Opera House has become synonymous with Sydney and is a staple to see if you go. Upon its inception, there were 233 submissions for its design. Ultimately, it was a designer from Denmark, Jørn Utzon, who won the final competition. With over 1 million Swedish tiles on the house, it cost over $100 million to make into completion.

Interestingly, the architect had a firm belief in biomimicry, or the modeling of man-made structures off of the resourcefulness of the natural environment. One of the features reflective of this foundational idea was the initial cooling system of the Opera House. This utilized seawater from the House’s surrounding harbor for an innovative air-conditioning system before transitioning to HVAC. Today the Opera House is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, being named so in 2007.

Surf Camp & Bondi Beach

If learning to surf is something you’d like to do, the long and low waves around Sydney are ideal for this. There are a host of surf camps run by professionals who can magician you into standing up on your surfboard and teach you the basics. Because Australia is inherently such a proud surf culture, there is something both exciting and fulfilling about pursuing the craft on the ground there. Bondi Beach is a great place to learn to surf, a favorite amongst locals and visiting tourists both.

The options via Learn to Surf on Bondi are numerous and are a specialty for the never-been-on-a-board folk. You will stand and ride an Aussie wave by the end of your lesson.

Newton Neighborhood

Newton is an artsy area for another vibe of Sydney. A contrast to the open harbor views around the Opera House and beach, this area is eclectic. Think greasy spoons, vintage spots, and particular craft walk-ins. For something fresh, this is a cool area to discover. The Street Art Project is also a neighborhood initiative to showcase local and foreign artists’ street-side work in the diverse murals that surround the neighborhood.

White Rabbit Gallery

Image by Jackie Alexander

Showcasing, curiously, one of the world’s more robust contemporary Chinese collections, there’s a tea house on-site and a plethora of thoughtful, time-placed pieces. From huge installations to modern multimedia, there’s something for all mavens and art lovers here. Peaceful and enjoyable, this is a place to add to your visit.

Warehouse Parties

Sydney is a party culture to put even a Korean to shame. Warehouse parties are semi-secret, semi-super public events that lace the basement haunts of Sydney’s undergrounds and side streets. With a likewise thriving electronic music scene, there is a tizzy to be experienced at warehouse parties in this city. Discover new musicians, DJs, and music, and get your jive on.

Mini Bars

There’s also an intriguing small bar scene throughout Sydney, not quite as petit as Tokyo’s notorious, but something akin. With a desire for more personable places and emotional investment via its creators, these small bars have proudly populated the scene.

After the legislation changed in Sydney Council to reduce the cost of obtaining a legal license for opening a bar, a boom in the bar scene occurred, but not the typical everyday walk-ins. They birthed hidden gem bars here and there, some with the vibe of cafes, and some more overtly counter-culture to what people consider a bar.

Due to the geography of Australia, there’s also a versatile Asian influence and the petit bars’ creative concoctions react to this in terms of what’s served and celebrated. Think exotic fruits and unusual herbal additions.

Check out Shady Pines Saloon, a homey yet attitude-rich one, or Baby Dragon Bar, an island-inspired environment and menu.

Carriageworks

Image by Garrett Rock

An independent spot, an elevated studio hang plus a fascinating museum space. Carriageworks is a center specifically renown for supporting a range of artists and organizations. It showcases performances, exhibitions, and events inclusive to visual work, dance, and theater. In line with the notion that local community space should support, uplift, and bring people together, it also acts as a farmers market every week on Saturdays.

An empowering element of the space is that it was one of Sydney’s first equal-opportunity employers for Aboriginal people Indigenous of the country, particuoating as a beacon of cultural integrity and political persuasion.

Check the roster of its events schedule ahead of time.

Brett Whiteley Studio

For another dose of aesthetics to pique the eye’s interest, Brett Whiteley Studio is an avant-garde local of the city whose lifelong works depict the regular in unusual ways, and the unusual in beautiful ways. A thought-provoking and serene immersion, this is something for your itinerary if you’re inspired by museums and story-based studio work. It’s personal, telling the creative chronology of a down local of this city.

Chinatown

Image by OJ Serrano

Chinatown in Australia is one of the oldest and largest Chinatowns. Tourists may not connote Chinatown with the idea of traveling to Australia. However, located between the Central Station and the popular Darling Harbor, it includes not only delightful finds of Chinese origin but also Asian antiquities from all over. The food in Chinatown is worth the venture alone as it’s a hub of Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Malaysian, Korean, and many other delicious eats.

Where to Stay? QT Sydney

The QT Sydney has broody lighting and flashy rooms that feel welcoming. Located right next to Hyde Park and a short jaunt from the Botanical Gardens, it’s a prime city location. Inside the hotel is also nestled a spa, bar, and two restaurants including a Parisian cafe and Italian-inspired sit-down. There’s an option for extravagant high tea as well. A comfortable hotel with a grand yet fun personality just like Sydney.

*Safety tip

Unlike its neighbor New Zealand which is benign when it comes to poisons, Australia is home to a gargantuan population of poisonous creatures. From spiders to jellyfish, even in the city, it’s warned to be aware of the wildlife, and especially on the beaches.

Bottom line

There are a few reasons to add Sydney as a destination in this world.

First, iconic landmarks, specifically the Opera House. It bedazzles. Second, the food and drink. The food and drink of Sydney is a delightfully hot melting pot. Third, something is exciting everywhere in Sydney and the burgeoning mini bar scene and party life is something. And finally, the rest of Australia’s gorgeous environment. Even though Sydney is at the helm of Australia, the rest of Oz is also awesome. If you’re attracted to the idea of Sydney, max your plane ticket and make it a bigger tour to visit the outback and reef. There you can get a gander at ‘roos in the wild, and dive or snorkel the Great Barrier.

For intel on how to do the Great Barrier Reef check out my post here.